Organic worldwide 50.9 million hectares and market exceeds 80 billion US Dollars

The positive trend seen in the past years continues: Consumer demand is increasing, reflected in the significant market growth. More farmers cultivate organically, more land is certified organic, and 179 countries (up from 172) report organic farming activities, as shown in the 2017 edition of the study “The World of Organic Agriculture” (data per end of 2015). The statistical yearbook is published by FiBL and IFOAM – Organics International and launched at BioFach today, Wednesday, February 15, 2017, from 4.00 to 4.45 pm in Hall Shanghai, NCC East. For all those who miss the launch a  summary with many graphics here.

Chart © FiBL/ Organic Monitor: Global organic market 2000 - 2015

The global organic market continues to grow worldwide

The market research company Organic Monitor estimates the global market for organic food to have reached 81.6 billion US dollars in 2015 (approximately 75 billion euros). Amarjit Sahota, founder and managing director of London Consulting Organic Monitor says: “The US market, due to its above-average growth rate, accounts for an increasingly important share in the global organic market.” Also most of the major markets showed double-digit growth rates. The four leading markets that contributed more than 70 % to the global organic market turnover in 2015:

- United States 35.9 billion euros,
- Germany with 8.6 billion euros
- France  with 5.5 billion euros
- China  with 4.7 billion euros.

Chart © FiBL/ AMI: Global distribution of retail sales

High consumer demand in many European countries

One of the highest growth rates in Europe was recorded in Sweden, with a plus of 38 percent. Together with Denmark, Sweden occupies the top position with the highest organic market share of over 8 percent of the total food market.The highest per capita spending was in Switzerland (262 Euros), followed by Denmark with 191 euros and Sweden with 177 euros.

Chart © FiBL/ AMI: Countries with highest per capita consumption in Europe

Organic agricultural land was growing considerably in 2015

A pleasing development in 2015 was seen among the organically cultivated agricultural land. A total of 50.9 million hectares were farmed organically in the 179 countries covered, almost 6.5 million hectares more in comparison to 2014. Even more impressive is the comparison with 1999 as the global ecological area was only 11 million hectares. Of the almost 51 million hectares   today, almost 23 million hectares are located in Australia / Oceania (45%), Europe occupies second place with 12.7 million hectares. In Latin America, the only continent on which growth in the area was stagnating in 2015, 6.7 million hectares are cultivated organically (13%).

Chart © FiBl, IFOAM, SOEL: Organic agricultural land 1999 - 2015

Although globally, the organic share of the total agricultural area has so far only reached 1.1 percent, the development over the past 15 years has been impressive overall, especially if the non-agricultural land (mainly certified for wild collection) of 39,7 million hectares is added.

Number of organic farmers is growing strongly

About 100,000 people have opted for organic farming from 2014 to 2015 and have allowed the number of organic producers to grow to 2.4 million. Compared to 1999, where the statistics counted only 200,000 producers this is a tremendous growth.

Chart © FiBL: Countries with the largest number of farmers.

Tip: Many more charts and infographics and detailed information you can find in the statistical yearbook "The World of Organic Agriculture that is published by FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture) and IFOAM – Organics International.The survey is supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the International Trade Centre (ITC), and NürnbergMesse, the organizers of the BioFach fair.

More information and Download
“The World of Organic Agriculture” 2017 edition, infographics, online data tables, and an interactive map can be downloaded at www.organic-world.net/yearbook/yearbook-2017.html

The print version (25 Euro + shipping, IFOAM members 20 Euro) of the study can be ordered at www.fibl.org/en/shop-en.html (shop number 3503) and www.ifoam.bio. There and at www.organic-world.net/yearbook/yearbook-2017.html

At the BIOFACH the factory is available at the booths of FiBL (Hall 1, Booth 555) and IFOAM - Organics International (Hall 1, Booth 451).